[Lexicog] Case of the Missing Hyphen-Link

[bolstar1]

     This may not be earth-shattering, but it may be earth 
shattering. Take the humble hyphen. It's interesting that in the 
modern world there are such marked variations in spelling. 
     Regional preferences -- like British, American, Australian, New 
Zealand, S. African, Indian, and all the "...-glish" preferred 
variations are going to have those differences, especially with newly-
coined words/phrases. Additionally, each `house' propounds its unique 
pedigree in propriety -- not unlike corporations proprietizing their 
own technical standards. And in the case of the title of this piece, 
different emphases (and personal stylistics) could have made the 
spelling "The Missing-Hyphen-Link" or "The Missing Hyphen Link" 
or "The Missing-Hyphen Link." But in regard to set words/phrases, its 
a bigger larger problem than this.  
     Perhaps spelling (not to mention `definition') standards should 
be the purview of the general linguist, not the collaborative 
lexicographer. But should this be so? It would seem an abrogation of 
the lexicographer's forte.  
     If I didn't know better, I would have thought Samuel 
Johnson's "A Dictionary of the English Language" (1755) -- the first 
English dictionary based on modern lexicographical principles -- 
would have set a precedent on the standardization of lexical entries, 
at least as far as spelling goes. That event in history demonstrated 
the far-reaching influence of one man, commissioned to make money for 
one publishing company William Strahan and Associates in producing 
one "authoritative dictionary." It went a long way to that end for 
the next century (actually 79 years). 
     History proved not to be so kind to the principle. Americans 
smiled approvingly when they didn't have to labo(u)r any more by 
adding `u' to its second syllable. Thanks, Noah Webster. This 
modernization effort in spelling (and lexical distinctiveness in 
America) demonstrated the changing nature, and importance, of work in 
the field.  
     Perhaps the e-world will catalyze standardization -- ala 
Benjamin Barret's form -- at least within this sub-sub-field of 
lexicography. Included within this on-line rubric could be placed 
`drilling links' that would will satisfy stylistic and regional 
preferences, and replace the potential scores of display cases in 
bookshops that cater to regional variations. Perhaps conferences, 
forums, colloquia, seminars, etc. on the part of conference 
organizers will do the trick. Or, perhaps, such variations simply go 
with the territory.   
     The following example demonstrates the differences between 
houses. Note the spelling in #1 in the OED 2007 edition (only `out-
and-out) vs. the 1989 edition (out-and-out; out and out) and spelling 
#2 (out-and-out)   
1) out and out (adj. & adv.) complete(ly), absolute(ly), total(ly), 
thorough(ly), in everyway, at all times, from every point of view 
OED on-line (draft revision, 2007) (adv., adj., and n. -- no 
variation listed)  
OED on-line SECOND EDITION 1989 (advb. phr. (a. and n.) out-and-out; 
out and out 
SPEARS SLANG (Desktop) (adj.)
NEW WORLD (Desktop) (adv.)    

2) out-and-out  

WORDNET.PRINCETON.EDU (google's lexical reference point) (no returns 
for "out and out")
MERRIAM CD (adj. -- no variation listed) 
DICTIONARY.COM (adj.) 
WIKTIONARY.COM 
AMERICAN HERITAGE (Desktop) (adj.) = out-and-out 

MERRIAM (Desktop) (adj./mod.) 
CHAPMAN (adj./mod.) 
OXFORD (Desktop)
MERRIAM (Desktop)
NEW WORLD (Desktop)




Scott Nelson


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